Istrian-Style Buzara Mussels with White Wine and Garlic

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-03 · Updated 2026-08-03

Fresh mussels cooked in a garlicky white wine broth inspired by the coastal flavors of Istria, perfect as an appetizer or light main. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs fresh mussels, cleaned and debearded, olive oil, garlic cloves, thinly sliced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 200 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs fresh mussels, cleaned and debearded
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• to taste sea salt
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large pot, heat 3 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 5 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
2. Step 2: Pour in 1 cup dry white wine and bring to a simmer.
3. Step 3: Add 2 lbs fresh cleaned mussels to the pot, cover with a lid, and steam for 5-7 minutes, shaking the pot occasionally, until all mussels open.
4. Step 4: Discard any mussels that remain closed. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley and season with sea salt to taste.
5. Step 5: Drizzle 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice over the mussels before serving with crusty bread to soak up the flavorful broth.